Geek week: Students face off in IT competitions at FAST-NU

1,000 students form universities and colleges participating in 10 events

LAHORE: More than 1,000 students from all over the country are participating in the Geek Week 2016 at the FAST-National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES), Lahore.

Students from dozens of schools, colleges and universities are competing in 10 IT-related contests. The winners will be awarded prizes ranging from Rs9,000 to Rs30,000.

An opening ceremony was held on Saturday to mark the start of the festival. Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) General Manager Burhan Rasool and Sabri Group of Industries CEO Farid Sabri were the chief guests. Faculty members Dr Irfan Younus and Dr Amjad Hussain addressed the participants.

Aamir Malik, a member of the organising committee, said that the event aimed to promoting technology and making it interesting for youth. He said that the event focused on learning and making it fun for the participants.

“In the mobile app development competition, teams have been asked to create an Uber-like application in two days. Eight teams are competing. They will stay at the university during the event. They are being provided all facilities. The winning team will be awarded Rs30,000,” he said.

Other competitions are about computer programming, mobile and application development, gaming, poster design and innovative ideas. There are also quizzes, a spelling bee competition and a comic-con. Teams from Punjab University (PU), the Government College University (GCU), Lahore; the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the University of Central Punjab (UCP), Aitchison College, the Lahore Grammar School (LGS), Johar Town and Defence campuses; COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamia University Bahawalpur, University of Sargodha and regional campuses of the FAST are participating.

Moazzam Nawaz Warraich, NUCES-ACM chairperson, said that the Geek Week would play an important role in the development and promotion of technology in Pakistan. “For the first time, a comic-con is being held in Lahore. It is a convention for all comics lovers, film and television enthusiasts and the best place to be with their friends. The event has been taking place annually for five years,” he said.

At the gaming competitions, individuals and teams face off for cash prizes.

Aamir Malik, one of the organisers, said that a spelling bee competition was being hosted for the first time. “The winning team will be given Rs30,000,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2016.